Billy Kennedy
Jones & Caruso
UF's Mike White
Texas A&M Basketball
Aggies hold on to down Florida at home, 71-68, move to 4-0 in SEC play
The Aggies are showing a knack for making the big plays in crunch time to pull out frantic basketball victories.
It’s just that now they’re doing it for the home crowd.
No. 15 Texas A&M got four clutch free throws from point guard Anthony Collins to post a thrilling 71-68 victory over upset-minded Florida on Tuesday night before 9,766 stressed-out fans at Reed Arena.
“We just wanted to make it exciting for the fans,” said A&M senior Jalen Jones. “We knew we would be in for a fight tonight. (Florida) played Michigan State to the tee. We knew we had to be prepared for a fight and they gave us a fight. But we came out with a win.”
Jones led the Aggies (14-2, 4-0 SEC) with 26 points, while Danuel House had 22. Alex Caruso scored five points, dished out seven assists and had seven rebounds.
Florida (10-6, 2-2) was led by Dorian Finney-Smith with 17 points and Justin Leon with 16.
It was the Aggies' third-straight hard-fought victory. Last week they survived scares to win 61-60 at Mississippi State and closed with an 18-4 run to escape Tennessee with a 92-88 triumph.
This time, the Aggies looked to Collins, who doesn’t shoot often but has been automatic at the free throw line.
The senior transfer from South Florida hit four clutch free throws in the final 25 seconds — the only four points he scored — and then grabbed a vital rebound.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
The Aggies' seniors powered another win, with Alex Caruso contributing in a variety of ways on and off the stat sheet.
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“I just know my role on the team,” Collins said. “We have a bunch of people to score the ball. Everybody has to sacrifice. I feel that’s what I have to do.”
Collins entered the game having made all 20 free throws he’s attempted. So, the Aggies should have been exuding confidence when he went to the free throw line.
That’s right. They should have been.
“He’s the best free throw shooter in the league,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “He’s 100 percent. Who can argue with that?
“I was thinking he’s due to miss one.”
The Aggies needed them all because Florida would never give up. In fact, the victory wasn’t clinched until Florida’s Chris Chiozza missed a three-point attempt with two seconds remaining. Collins got the rebound.
The ending was typical of the entire game. Each time A&M appeared it had a chance to take control, Florida found a way to rally.
Texas A&M led 59-49 with just over eight minutes to play and held a 67-61 advantage with two minutes left, but the Gators always rallied.
Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer from the right wing off a throw-in to bring the Gators within 67-66 with 25.4 seconds remaining.
The Gators then were forced to foul. And when it mattered most, Collins scored his only four points of the game at the foul line.
Still, the Aggies had to sweat it out until the very end.
They appeared to have the win clinched after Collins hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left and then Florida center John Egbunu was called for an offensive foul as the Gators tried to push the ball upcourt.
However, Chiozza stole Caruso’s inbounds pass for House and got off a last shot that could have forced overtime.
“Somehow the ball came loose,” Caruso said. “I don’t know if it was a steal or a foul. (Chiozza) got a good look and Anthony came out with a big rebound. I’m just glad to get out with a win.”
The Aggies shot just 36.1 percent (22 of 61), but compensated by forcing 16 turnovers, which were parlayed into 21 points.
The Gators might have won if they’d been more accurate at the foul line, too. They converted just four of 12 free throws.
A&M converted 20 of 30. The Aggies hit 14 of 19 in the second half and seven of their last eight.
A&M is now 4-0 for the first time in the SEC and in first place in the league standings.
“It feels like we’re the best team in the SEC,” Jones said. “We try to play like that every night. Starting off 4-0 is great for us. We have to continue that on the road.
“Later in the season conference games seem to get tougher and tougher. This game will prepare us for the end of the season.”
It’s just that now they’re doing it for the home crowd.
No. 15 Texas A&M got four clutch free throws from point guard Anthony Collins to post a thrilling 71-68 victory over upset-minded Florida on Tuesday night before 9,766 stressed-out fans at Reed Arena.
“We just wanted to make it exciting for the fans,” said A&M senior Jalen Jones. “We knew we would be in for a fight tonight. (Florida) played Michigan State to the tee. We knew we had to be prepared for a fight and they gave us a fight. But we came out with a win.”
Jones led the Aggies (14-2, 4-0 SEC) with 26 points, while Danuel House had 22. Alex Caruso scored five points, dished out seven assists and had seven rebounds.
Florida (10-6, 2-2) was led by Dorian Finney-Smith with 17 points and Justin Leon with 16.
It was the Aggies' third-straight hard-fought victory. Last week they survived scares to win 61-60 at Mississippi State and closed with an 18-4 run to escape Tennessee with a 92-88 triumph.
This time, the Aggies looked to Collins, who doesn’t shoot often but has been automatic at the free throw line.
The senior transfer from South Florida hit four clutch free throws in the final 25 seconds — the only four points he scored — and then grabbed a vital rebound.
Matt Sachs, TexAgs
The Aggies' seniors powered another win, with Alex Caruso contributing in a variety of ways on and off the stat sheet.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"The Aggies\u0027 seniors powered another win, with Alex Caruso contributing in a variety of ways on and off the stat sheet.","MediaItemID":64860}
Collins entered the game having made all 20 free throws he’s attempted. So, the Aggies should have been exuding confidence when he went to the free throw line.
That’s right. They should have been.
“He’s the best free throw shooter in the league,” A&M coach Billy Kennedy said. “He’s 100 percent. Who can argue with that?
“I was thinking he’s due to miss one.”
The Aggies needed them all because Florida would never give up. In fact, the victory wasn’t clinched until Florida’s Chris Chiozza missed a three-point attempt with two seconds remaining. Collins got the rebound.
The ending was typical of the entire game. Each time A&M appeared it had a chance to take control, Florida found a way to rally.
Texas A&M led 59-49 with just over eight minutes to play and held a 67-61 advantage with two minutes left, but the Gators always rallied.
Finney-Smith hit a three-pointer from the right wing off a throw-in to bring the Gators within 67-66 with 25.4 seconds remaining.
The Gators then were forced to foul. And when it mattered most, Collins scored his only four points of the game at the foul line.
Still, the Aggies had to sweat it out until the very end.
They appeared to have the win clinched after Collins hit two free throws with 8.5 seconds left and then Florida center John Egbunu was called for an offensive foul as the Gators tried to push the ball upcourt.
However, Chiozza stole Caruso’s inbounds pass for House and got off a last shot that could have forced overtime.
“Somehow the ball came loose,” Caruso said. “I don’t know if it was a steal or a foul. (Chiozza) got a good look and Anthony came out with a big rebound. I’m just glad to get out with a win.”
The Aggies shot just 36.1 percent (22 of 61), but compensated by forcing 16 turnovers, which were parlayed into 21 points.
Later in the season conference games seem to get tougher and tougher. This game will prepare us for the end of the season.
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“If we come over here and get 10, 11, 12 turnovers we might be sitting here with a win,” Florida coach Mike White said.The Gators might have won if they’d been more accurate at the foul line, too. They converted just four of 12 free throws.
A&M converted 20 of 30. The Aggies hit 14 of 19 in the second half and seven of their last eight.
A&M is now 4-0 for the first time in the SEC and in first place in the league standings.
“It feels like we’re the best team in the SEC,” Jones said. “We try to play like that every night. Starting off 4-0 is great for us. We have to continue that on the road.
“Later in the season conference games seem to get tougher and tougher. This game will prepare us for the end of the season.”
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